A trio of Vancouver Police Department members interrupted an alleged carjacking Wednesday night in East Vancouver and arrested the would-be thief before he could get away with the stolen car.

“This was a dangerous situation that was thankfully diffused by our quick-thinking officers who were in the right place at the right time,” said Sgt. Steve Addison on Thursday.

The incident happened just before 8 p.m. on Wednesday, as a driver was leaving a grocery store near Clark Drive and East Hastings Street. The 47-year-old Vancouver man was stopped in traffic when the suspect allegedly opened the passenger-side door, got in the car, and told the driver he was a police officer.

“Fortunately, the driver recognized that this was not actually a police officer, but rather someone who was allegedly committing a crime,” said Sergeant Addison. “The victim quickly got out of the car and flagged down a VPD member just as the suspect was trying to put the car in gear. Two other officers arrived moments later and helped arrest the suspect.”

A 34-year-old Vancouver man was taken to jail and the investigation is ongoing.